Prize-awarding advertising apparatus.



R. F. HUDSON.

PRIZE AWARDING ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED APR.23. 1909.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

R. P. HUDSON.

PRIZE AWARDING ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23-,1909.

976,079. Patented N0v.15,1910.

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ROBERT F. HUDSON, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,

ASSIGNOR- TO THE PREMIUM REGISTER PRIZE-AWARDING ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

Application filed April 23,1909. Serial No. 491,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. HUDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of I-Ienrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful PriZe-Awarding Advertising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in that general class of devices known as profit sharing sale counters designed to stimulate trade by offering a portion of the profits in the shape of goods, rebate, discount or the like to the customers.

In devices of this character the apparatus is made to cause a visual signal and an audi ble signal at certain predetermined intervals in the operation of the device, as for instance after predetermined numbers of sales the signal will be displayed or caused to sound or both in such manner as to not only attract the customers attention to the fact that a prize is due but at the same time advertising matter may be displayed and because of the signals the customers attention is called to the advertisement.

The devices to which the present invention relates are customarily used in connection with cash registers or other sale registers and the advertising side of the device may be made to operate to display an advertisement each time a sale is recorded on the register. However, it is only at prede. termined intervals that the signal will be displayed so that one or a number of sales may be registered before a signal will be caused and sales are thereby stimulated by the hope on the part of the customers that the sale about to be registered will indicate the awarding of a prize.

In accordance with the present invention the display of the visual signal and the causin of the audible signal is made to continue for a predetermined time entirely outside the volition of the clerk or other operator of the cash register so that the signal is caused for a suflicient length of time to attract attention but is not continued for so long a time as to become obtrusive or to cause the exhaustion of 'the source of current.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an advertisement displaying means which is actuated every time a sale is recorded on the cash. register and after every predetermined number of sales so recorded an electric circuit is closed to an electric lamp and to a bell which may be taken as typical of any visual and audible signal. As soon as the circuit is closed it will remain at the point of closure in the closed condition until another sale is made and the cash register again actuated. To provide for the continuation of the signals for a sufficiently long time butto prevent such display becoming annoying or obtrusive, there is supplied an automatic circuit breaking means of sluggish movement, rendered active by the actuation of the cash register and slowly moving to a position where the circuit to the signals is broken thus stillingthe audible signals and cutting out the visual signal. Provision is also made for the adjustment of the movement of the circuit breaker so that the degree of sluggish movement may be predetermined and changed at will.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is an end elevation, with parts broken away and the casing in section, of a device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail section of one of the circuit controlling devices. Fig. 3 is a detail section through the valve end of the-retarder. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device on a smaller scale than Fig. 1, with the casing in section. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, with parts in elevation of a modified form of the device with parts omitted. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the device with the casing intact. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a modification of a pawl structure. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a second circuit controller used in the device.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a base member 1 from which rises a casing 2 designed to house the various working parts of the mechanism constituting the apparatus of the present invention. The casing 2 may be of any suitable shape and as ornamental as the aesthetic taste of the designer may dictate, and this casing is provided with an opening 3 which may be covered by a transparent pane 4 of glass or other suitable material and the casing may also be provided with another opening 5 of any desired shape and closed by a transparent pane 6 of any desired color. The purpose of the openings 3 and 5 will appear hereinafter.

Erected on the base 1 are standards 7-8 in which are journaled bearings for thejournals of a drum 9 having its surface arranged for the reception of suitable advertising matter of any desired type. The location of the drum within the casing is such that advertising matter within circumscribed spaces 10 on the drums becomes visible through the opening 3 the drum being rotatable, as will hereinafter appear, in such steps as to carry the advertising zones in order coincident with the opening 3 so as to be visible therethrough.

That ournal of the drum 9 extending through the standard 8 is continued sufliciently to carry adjacent to the standard a ratchet 11 and beyond the latter a pinion 12 while on the face of the ratchet adjacent to the pinion 12 is a circular series of equally spaced projecting pins 13, which pins however may be replaced by teeth if so desired. The number of teeth on the ratchet 11 and the number of pins 13 agree with the number of spaces 10 on the drum 9.

Mounted on the standard 8 is a pawl 14 held yieldingly to the ratchet 11 by a spring 15 and acting as a back stop for the said ratchet.

Mounted on the standard 8 to one side of the ratchet wheel 11, and in the particular example shown in the drawings below such ratchet wheel is a lever 16 having on one side of its pivot point 17 a fixed pawl 18 adapted to engage the pins 13 by its freeend which is formed in the shape of a hook as indicated at 19.

Pivotally secured to the end of the lever remote from the pawl 18 is another pawl 20 having its free end 21 shaped to engage the teeth of the ratchet 11 while the pawl is held to the ratchet wheel by a spring 22 car ried by the standard 8.

The lever 16 is under the normal control of a spring 23 tending at all times to maintain that end of the lever carrying the pawl 18 in the elevatedposition, in which position the pawl 18 has its end 19 in the path of a pin 13. hen a force is applied to that end of the lever controlled by the spring 23 in a direction to extend the spring against its normal tendency then the pawl 18 is moved out of the path of the pins 13 and the pawl 20 is moved along the ratchet wheel 11 until its end 21 is in position to engage the next succeeding tooth, being forced in that position continuously by the spring 22. Then the lever 16 is released from the force acting against the spring 23, the retractile action of the spring will move the lever 16 about its pivot 17 in a direction to cause the pawl 20 to engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel 11 and rotate the latter together with the drum 9 for a distance of one tooth when the pawl 18 is again brought into the path of the pins 13 and further rotative movement of the drum 19 is arrested. By the proper actuation of the lever 16 in one direction by a force superior to the spring 23 and in the other direction by the spring 23 the drum 9 may be rotated step by step, the rotative movement being imparted to the drum by the retractile force of the spring 23.

In the path of the end of the lever .16 connected to the spring 23 is a pin 24: serving to limit the movement of the lever 16 under the action of the spring 23. Pivoted to the end of the lever 16 to which is connected the spring 23 is a link 25 having its other end provided with a slot 26 longitudinal of the link and serving a purpose which will presently appear. Pivoted to the standard 8 is another lever 27 carrying at one end a pin 28 projecting through the slot 26 in the link 25. This lever is under the normal control of a spring 29 tending at all times to maintain the lever 27 in a position where the pin 28 is at or close to the upper end of the slot 26 in the link 25.

At the end of the lever 27 remote from the pin 28 there is pivotally secured to this lever a plunger rod 30 entering a cylinder 31 pivotally secured to an off-set or bracket 32 at the upper end of the standard 8. The plunger rod 30 closely but freely fits the cylinder 31, the latter being provided at the. end remote from that entered by the plunger 30 with a valve 33 opening outward against the action of the spring 3 1. When the plunger 30 is moved into the cylinder 31 then the imprisoned air finds escape through the valve 33 against the action of the spring 3st which freely yields to slight pressure. When however the plunger 30 after being pushed into the cylinder 31 moves in the reverse direction then the valve 33 is closed by the action of the spring 34: and air can only enter the cylinder by leakage about the plunger 30, which latter having a fair fit in the cylinder permits the intake of air but slowly and consequently the device acts in the manner of a dash-pot. At a point near the outermost point of travel of the inner end of the plunger 30 the cylinder 31 is provided with an opening indicated at 35 so that as soon as the plunger 30 in its out ward movement uncloses the opening 35 the air quickly rushes into the cylinder 31 and equalizes the pressure in the cylinder with atmospheric pressure.

In the path of the end of the plunger connected to the lever 27 is a block 36 preferably of insulating material and this block is carried near the free end of a spring 37 and at the other end either directly to the base 1 or to a fixed structure carried by the base, and in the path of the free end of the spring 37 is a block 38 having an overhang 39 with which the spring 37 at its free end is adapted to make electrical contact. When the base 1 is of insulating material then the block 38 is of conducting material and the spring 37 which is also of conducting material may both be mounted on the base but if the base be made of metal or other conducting material then either or both the spring 37 and block 38 may be insulated therefrom.

Mounted on the base 1 adjacent to the standard 8 is a block 40 of insulating material having connected thereto at one end another block 41 also of insulating material, the connecting means being preferably in the nature of a leaf spring 42 constituting a spring hinge tending to hold the other end of the block 41 away from the corresponding end of the block 40. The blocks 40 and 41 are of substantially the same length and the block 40 is guided to move to and from the block 41 without putting the spring 42 under side strain by guide fingers 43 carried by the block 40. The block 41 carries at its free end a pin 44 of conducting material and in the path of this pin the block 40 carries a short plunger 45 upheld by a spring 46, both plunger and spring being housed in the block 40 and the block 45 is in electrical connection with a binding post 47 also carried by the block 40. The upper edge of the block 41 is formed with a tooth 48 near one end and this tooth has an inclined face ending in an abrupt shoulder. The tooth 48 is in the nature of a cam.

Mounted on a stud 49 projecting from the standard 8 is a gear wheel 50 in mesh with the pinion 12 and this gear wheel carries a predetermined number of pins 51 adapted to engage one by one the cam tooth 48 on the block 41 and by such engagement force the end of the block carrying the pin 44 toward the block 40 against the action of the spring 42 until the pin 44 has made engagement with the plunger 45, both pin 44 and plunger 45 being of metal and therefore electrically conducting.

Carried on the base 1 beneath the roller 9 is a source of electric current preferably in the form of two or three dry cells 52. Also carried by the base 1 is an electric bell 53 and also a miniature electric lamp 54 in a reflector 55, the lamp and reflector being located immediately behind the opening 5 in the casing 2.

The bell constitutes the audible signal and the lamp constitutes the visual signal but it will be evident that other means for these purposes may be employed and so the lamp and bell may be taken as simply typical of any audible signal and any visual signal it may be desired to utilize.

The cells 52 may be connected up in series to provide a suitable voltage or may be connected in any proper way and one terminal of the groups of batteries is connected to one side of the lamp by a conductor 56 while the other side of the lamp may be connected to the standard 8, the latter being of metal, by a conductor 57. The conductor 57 might be connected directly with the pin 44 on the block 41 but it is preferred to connect a pin or stud 24 by a flexible conductor 58 to the said pin 44 and this conductor 58 may even aid the spring 42 in maintaining the block 41 in the elevated position. The block 38 is connected by a conductor 59 to the binding post 47. The end of the current source or battery group remote from that connected to the lamp is connected by a conductor 60 to the spring 37.

The lever 16 is connected by another link 61 to one end of a lever 62 adapted to be actuated every time the money drawer of the cash register is opened for the purposes of a sale. The structure of the cash register does not enter into the present invention and has therefore been omitted from the drawings and the lever 62 may be replaced by other means whereby the cash register mechanism will cause the action of the link 61 in a. direction to move the lever 16 against the action of the spring 23.

Let it be assumed that every time a sale is made, and therefore the mechanism of the cash register is operated, that the lever 62 is actuated in a direction to cause a downward movement of the link 61, and a corresponding downward movement of the link 25, with the resultant movement of the lever 16 against the action of the spring 23 then the pawl 20 is elevated to a position to be in operative relation to the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet 11 while the pawl 18 is moved out of the path of the pins 13. N ow when the mechanism of the cash register is released the spring 23 will cause the return of the links 25 and 61 and the lever 62 to the normal position and also return the lever 16 to its normal position causing the rotation of the drum 9 one step and the locking of the same by the reengagement of the pawl 18 with a corresponding pin 13. This movement of the link 61 in pulling down the link 25 has caused the upper end wall of the slot 26 to engage the pin 28 on the lever 27 and thus move the plunger 30 into the cylinder 31 to the full extent of its travel therein, at the same time putting the spring 29 under tension in excess of its normal retractile force. The inward movement of the plunger 30 into the cylinder 31 is not at all resisted on account of the escape of the air through the valve 33 as heretofore described. When the link 25 is permitted to again return to its normal position under the action of the spring 23 the lever 27 tends to return to its first position under the action of the spring 29 but this return movement is resisted by the atmospheric pressure acting on the plunger 30 because of the inability of the air to find free access to the interior of the cylinder 31. Consequently the slow inleak of the air into the said cylinder retards the movement of the plunger 30 so that the return movement of the lever 27 to its normal position under the action of the spring 29 is quite sluggish until finally the opening 35 is unclosed when the completion of the movement of the lever 27 to normal position is rapid. Each time the plunger 30 is moved in to the cylinder 31 its lower end is removed from the block 36 and the resiliency of the spring 37 causes its free end to move into engagement with the overhang 39 on the block 38 and thus complete the electric circuit at this point, the ordinary condition of these parts being the open circuit position because of the bending of the spring 37 away from its normal position and out of engagement with the overhang 39 when the plunger 37 engages the block 36, the block 36 acting as a stop for arresting the downward movement of the plunger 30 under the action of the spring 29. However, the circuit of the battery 52 is broken at the blocks 40 and 41 since the pin 44 is normally out of engage-- ment with the plunger 45. Ultimately however the progressive step by step movement of the drum 9 will bring a pin 51 into engagement with a cam tooth 48 and the block 41 will be moved toward the block 40 until the pin 44 is in engagement with the plunger 45 and the electric circuit at this point is thereby completed. This completion of the circuit between the pin 44 and plunger 45 takes place as the plunger 30 is moved into the cylinder 31 and so the spring 37 is in en gagement with the overhang 39. Thereby the circuit is completed from the battery through the bell and lamp to the standard 8 thence by conductor 58 to the pin 41, plunger 45 and binding post 47, in order, thence by conductor 59 to the block 38, thence to the spring 37 and by the conductor 60 back to the battery, thus establishing a circuit which will cause the lamp to glow and the bell to ring and this display of signals will continue until finally the plunger 30 has returned to its initial position and by engaging the block 36 will force the spring 37 out of engagement with the overhang 39 and thus rupture the circuit at this point thereby stilling the alarm and cutting ofi the lamp. The opening 35 in the cylinder 31 is so located that the final movement of the plunger 30 is rapid thus rupturing the circuit between the spring 37 and overhang 39 qulckly and thus preventing the formation of an are or the intermittent action of the alarm and visual signal.

It is to be understood that the cylinder 30 may be provided with an adjustable air inlet 63 so that the degree of sluggishness of movement of the plunger 30 under the action of the spring 29 may be regulated at will.

Some users of cash registers have the keyboard toward the customers and others have the other face of the cash register toward the customers. To provide for this the lever 16 may have the end carrying the pawl 20 extended and there provided with a segmental gear 64 in mesh with a similar gear 65 on the end of a lever 66. The mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention may be placed either way on a cash register so that the opening 3 is toward the customer and then the link 61 will be connected to either the lever 16 or the lever 66 as may be necessary.

The source of current may be either the battery 52 or any other suitable source. Under some circumstances it may be desirable .to use transparent or translucent advertising matter on the drum 9, which drum, of course, may be either cylindrical or poly 'onal as desired. In such case the standarc 7 may be so constructed as to carry an electric lamp 67 within the drum 9 without interfering with the rotative movement of the latter, and the bell 53 and lamp 54 may be suitably constructed to operate on the current passing through the lamp 67 and be connected up in circuit with said lamp 67 which, in such case, may be coupled up to the ordinary street mains.

The invention also serves as a check on the improper use of the cash register by dishonest clerks since the chance of obtaining a prize will cause the customer to give particular attention to the operation of the cash register and thereby make the registering of a smaller amount too hazardous for a dishonest clerk to attempt. The invention thus operates as a fraud preventa tive.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a step by step mechanism, a signal means and source of electrical energy for 'said signal means, a circuit closer for the signal circuit under the control of the step by step mechanism, an automatically closing circuit controller for the signal circuit, and means for opening said circuit controller after a predetermined time interval, the circuit closer and circuit controller being in the circuit closing position simultaneously.

2. In a device of the class described, a signal means and a source of electric energy for actuating said signal means, separate circuit-controllers in the signal circuit in normally open circuit position, and one of the circuit-controllers having a normal tendency toward the closed circuit position, automatic means for causing the simultaneous closing of the circuit at said circuit-control- Mame lers, and automatic means for causing the opening of the circuit after a predetermined time interval at the circuit-controller having a normal tendency to maintain the closed position.

8. In a device of the class described, a step by step mechanism, a signal means and source of electric energy for actuating said signal means, separate circuit-controllers in the signal-circuit in normally open circuit position, one of the circuit-controllers having a normal tendency toward the closed circuit position and the other circuit controller being under the control of the step by step mechanism, automatic means for causing the simultaneous closing of the circuit at said circuitcontrollers, and automatic means for causing the opening of the circuit after a predetermined time interval at the circuit-controller having a normal tendency to maintain the closed circuit-position.

4. In a device of the class described, a signal means and source of electric energy for said signal means, a circuit-controller for the signal circuit having a normal tendency toward the open circuit position, another circuit-controller in said signal circuit having a normal tendency toward the closed circuit position, means for normally maintaining the circuit-controller having a normal tendency toward closed circuit position in the open circuit position, means for causing the closure of the circuit at the circuitcontroller having the normally open circuit position, simultaneously with the closing of the circuit at the other circuit-controller, after the latter has been closed a predetermined number or" times, and sluggishly acting means for preventing the opening of the circuit at the circuit-controller having a normal tendency toward the closed circuit position until after the lapse of a predetermined time interval.

5. In a device of the class described, a signal means and a source of electric energy for actuating said signal means, a circuit closer in the signal circuit normally tending to open circuit position, means for causing the movement of the said circuit closer to closed circuit position under predetermined conditions, another circuit closer in the circuit having a normal tendency to closed circuit position and means having a sluggish active movement toward the second named circuit closer to move the latter to the open circuit position and means for moving said sluggishly acting means away from the second named circuit closer to permit the latter to move to closed circuit position.

6. In a device of the class described, a step by step mechanism, a signal means and a source of electrical energy for actuating said signal means, a circuit closer in the circuit of the signal means and normally tending to open circuit position, means controlled by the movement of the step by step mechanism to cause the closing of the circuit at the said circuit closer after a predetermined number of movements of the step by step mechanism, another circuit closer in the signal circuit and normally tending to closed circuit position, and means having a sluggish movement toward the last named circuit closer to move the same to open circuit position and capable of actuation in a direction away from said circuit closer to permit the latter to move to the closed circuit position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT F. HUDSON.

Witnesses:

E. HUME TALBERT, F. T. CHAPMAN. 

